Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ²³  Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word;  and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

 ²⁴  “He who does not love Me does not keep My words;  and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me.

 ²⁵  “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.

 ²⁶  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”  John 14:21-26.  

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This Scripture continues with the explanation of the role of the Holy Spirit.  In a devotion three days ago, we also quoted this Scripture of John 14:26.  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”

This Scripture also continues with the explanation of love for Christ being a motivation for obedience,  In a devotion four days ago, we focused on a similar Scripture, John 14:15:  “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

So, what is new in this Scripture?  On what should this devotion focus?

I notice this Scripture mentions “disclose” twice.  In John 16:13-15, Jesus refers to “disclose” three times in describing the role of the Holy Spirit, but I think we should wait until we get to that passage before we look at those uses.

In this Scripture, I am more interested in the contrast between the two groups:  those to whom Jesus discloses and those to whom Jesus does not disclose.  See verses 21 and 22, particularly verse 22:  “ Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?”  And, as a Calvinist, who pounds the table on election as taught in “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, it is natural for me to have this interest. 

But, it does not seem to me that Jesus directly and simply answers Judas’ question.  Here is what John Calvin stated in His Commentary on John 14:22.    

22.  Judas (not Iscariot) saith to him.  It is not without reason that he asks why Christ does not cause his light to be imparted to more than a few persons;  since he is the Sun of Righteousness, (Malachi 4:2) by whom the whole world ought to be enlightened;  and, therefore, it is unreasonable that he should enlighten but a few, and not shed his light everywhere without distinction.  Christ’s reply does not solve the whole question;  for it makes no mention of the first cause, why Christ ‘manifested himself to a few,’ conceals himself from the greater part of men;  for certainly he finds all men at first alike, that is, entirely alienated from him;  and, therefore, he cannot choose any person who loves him, but he chooses from among his enemies those whose hearts he bends to the love of him.  But he did not intend, at present, to take any notice of that distinction, which was far from the object he had in view.  His design was, to exhort his disciples to the earnest study of godliness, that they might make greater progress in faith;  and, therefore, he is satisfied with distinguishing them from the world by this mark, that they keep the doctrine of the Gospel.

Now, this mark comes after the commencement of faith, for it is the effect of their calling.  In other passages, Christ had reminded the disciples of their being called by free grace, and he will afterwards bring it to their recollection.  At present, he only enjoins them to observe his doctrine, and to maintain godliness.  By these words, Christ shows in what manner the Gospel is properly obeyed.  It is, when our services and outward actions proceed from the love of Christ;  for in vain do the arms, and the feet, and the whole body toil, if the love of God does not reign in the heart, to govern the outward members. Now, since it is certain that we keep the commandments of Christ only in so far as we love him, it follows that a perfect love of him can nowhere be found in the world, because there is no man who keeps his commandments perfectly;  yet God is pleased with the obedience of those who sincerely aim at this end.

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In summary, there are at least two lessons in this Scripture for today.  First, we need to accept Scripture for what it teaches, not twist it for what we want to use it based on our own desires or agenda.  Second, we need to use this Scripture to aspire to what it first directly teaches:  “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word”.  And, as Calvin states:  “Christ shows in what manner the Gospel is properly obeyed.  It is, when our services and outward actions proceed from the love of Christ”.